03.16.10

Persons familiar with the modern history of the Boston Red Sox might recall the somewhat controversial public relations-stylings of the diabolical dentist, Charles Steinberg, who may or may not have been a thorn in the side of Theo Epstein prior to L’Affaire Gorilla Suit. Today, as part of revelations concerning the contentious divorce case between Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt, the LA Times’ Bill Shaikin reports Steinberg hasn’t exactly kept a low profile at Chavez Ravine, either.

In a December 2008 e-mail, Dodgers executive Charles Steinberg presented her with “Project Jamie,” a seven-page action plan that included this line: “Goal: Be Elected President of the United States.”

In a March 2009 e-mail suggesting that she first run for mayor of Los Angeles and then governor of California, consultant Michael Wissot wrote: “Since I’ve never known you to joke with me about your professional objectives, I presume that this POTUS (President of the United States) goal is serious.”

Wissot told The Times that McCourt never followed up with him.

“It was never clear to me that this was a priority,” said Wissot, who runs SymAction, a Los Angeles communications and political strategy firm. “There’s a clear difference between bringing something up in a brainstorming capacity and saying this is a specific course of action.”

In her deposition, McCourt testified she had not taken any actions toward a campaign for mayor, governor or president.

“The Dodger organization, including Frank McCourt, learned of these aspirations only when the documents surfaced after the parties separated,” said Marshall Grossman, the attorney representing the team.

“The Dodgers were surprised to learn that Mr. Steinberg had performed services beyond those for which he was hired.”